Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

I am interested in knowing any thoughts on what farmers are looking for from an ag real estate ad or realtor. I want to know the type of person you might want to be looking on your behalf and what type of qualifications they  have to help you.

- is it better that they tell you right out about their farming experience or should they prove it to you through their use of knowledge

- How do you go about finding farm land, hobby farm land, or acres with a home on it?

Any thoughts and advice would be great :)

mac

Views: 194

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Hi Mackenna,

If you are looking at farmland, I would stick with someone who knows agriculture.

We have alot of good members on www.realestate.farms.com website.

Hope this helps,

Joe

 

What great questions.

First of all if you are selling a farm you have to prove its viability especially if it is an existing operation. Too many realtors are very inexperienced when it comes to selling the business end of the farm. They show the houses but nothing on  the operation and cash flow statements. Can't live on a farm if it is not viable. Another argument that can be used by the realtor is to state that it is the future owners responsibility to envision the farms future. This is true only if it is not an ongoing operation. Even if it is an annual crop that was grown on the land a realtor should have detailed information on the crops grown on the land for the past 5 years and types of fertilizer and herbicides used. The realtor should also have detailed soils survey from the current owner if the current owner farms the land. Any farmer worth his/her salt has this information on a split second notice ( or at least should have). This type of information can help sell the operation and also get a premium for the farm.

Thanks to both of you.

 

Joe - I am looking to see what qualities a person might look for in a person who sells AG real estate vs actually buying farmland.

 

David - thank you for the information. It is very true that with farm real estate you need to know as much about the land as you do the buildings on it.

 

Mackenna

If I were buying a farm, I'm not sure that I would take the realtor's or the vendor's word on the viability of the farm. After all who's responsibility is it to know what will work?

 

Furthermore, it would be interesting to assess the stand-alone viability of many of the farms that have sold in this area in the past year or more. Growing legal crops, that is . . .

I am not a farmer, but I do plan on buying arable land in the mid-term and perhaps in the long term farming such land. 

 

To date I have made several serious enquiries about certain parcels of land, while I don't know much about farming I know enough to ask some basic questions regarding crop history, soil samples and typical yields.  Every realtor I have asked these questions of either did not know the information or stated that such information would be provided on making an offer.  Sorry, but both excuses are weak.  I kind of want to know that information up front when considering a purchase.

 

I should say that my father has been in the real estate business for close to 40 years.  He has never really sold farms or arable land.  If he listed such property he may not know enough about the business end of the operations to speak to them with any confidence. 

 

I think there may be a need for realtors with expertise in farming, but to effectively do so they would have to have enough business to make specialization worthwhile.

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Farming Forward in Watford scheduled for Dec. 1

The event will provide farmers with information about farm transition and funding opportunities

Canada and China extend Preliminary Joint Agreement until 2028

The extension means continued tariff-free access for canola meal

Manitoba Dealer AgWest Seeks Lifeline

One of Manitoba's largest equipment dealership networks has been given a temporary lifeline to stay in business while it seeks new financing, pursues a sale or develops a restructuring plan, as the Manitoba Court of King's Bench granted protection from creditors. AgWest Ltd. could be heading toward liquidation as the company was unable to meet payroll obligations in the middle of harvest season, according to a document filed by the company's bank, the Bank of Montreal. AgWest serves farmers at six dealerships in Manitoba at Elie, Morden, Brandon, Neepawa, Russell and Benito, as well as two locations in Saskatchewan at Weyburn and Yorkton. AgWest Ltd. has defaulted on more than $34 million in loans, according to an opening brief in a restructuring proceeding under Canada's Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act. "Since 2026, the AgWest entities have experienced significant financial difficulties, including liquidity challenges and a general inability to meet their obligations as they

Deere Plans 2 Iowa Plant Closures

John Deere announced plans to close two Iowa manufacturing plants in the next few years and move production to other cities, in a news release from the company on Wednesday. Deere said it will be closing its plant in Ottumwa, Iowa, after moving windrower and round-baler production to Des Moines. In addition, the company said it will end manufacturing at its Hagie plant in Clarion, Iowa, after moving STS sprayer production to Louisiana. Windrower production plans to move to Des Moines by the end of 2027 and round balers would follow by the end of 2028, according to Deere, followed by the closure of the plant in Ottumwa. Hagie STS sprayer production is slated to move to Thibodaux, Louisiana, beginning in 2028 with manufacturing ending in Clarion, Iowa, by the end of 2029. John Deere did not provide employment numbers or say how many jobs would be affected, although other media outlets on Wednesday reported the company has about 700 workers at the Ottumwa plant. The number of employee

Diesel Fuel Waivers Bring Engine Compatibility Concerns and Tax Rule Questions

Responding to the surge in diesel fuel prices, federal and state lawmakers introduced temporary measures intended to provide economic relief. These actions raise questions about fuel use requirements and fuel taxation. “Temporary relief measures may help reduce operating costs, but diesel users should not assume that all diesel fuels are interchangeable,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Engine Technology Forum. “Understanding which fuel is appropriate for a particular engine and complying with tax and regulatory requirements can help avoid equipment damage, unnecessary maintenance costs, warranty concerns, and compliance issues.” Texas and Alaska get ULSD exemptions Ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) is the standard diesel fuel used for both on-highway and off-highway applications throughout the United States, and it is regulated to a maximum sulfur content of 15 parts per million (ppm). On Oct 5, Texas was granted a waiver to supply diesel fuel with up to 500 ppm of sul

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service